Amanda nodded. “Let me call my father to tell him what’s going on, and we can go. Is there any way out of this for me?”
“Get a good attorney,” Tennyson said. “Tell them all about the abuse you’ve been subjected to over the years at Simon’s hands. Bash told us he threatened to kill you if you didn’t help him.”
Ronan nodded in agreement. “It’s possible you can make a deal with the DA in exchange for your testimony about what happened to Bash and any other crimes you might know about.”
Amanda’s mouth hung open. “How did you know?”
Ronan offered a cold smile, as if he didn’t relish his next words. “Your husband got away with murder, Amanda. Men like thatthink they’re unstoppable. Listen to my husband: tell your father to hire the best lawyer money can buy.”
Amanda nodded and turned to Tennyson. “The only way you could have known what happened that night in detail was if you spoke to Bash. I absolutely believe your gift is genuine. Can you tell me if my baby will be okay?” Tears streaked down Amanda’s cheek.
Ten nodded. “He will be just fine, and so will you. Tell the truth, use those pictures hidden on the flash drive in your shoebox—you know, the ones Simon doesn’t know about—and do everything you can to protect Simon’s child.”
“Simon’s child?” Ronan asked, stunned. “I thought you said the babywasn’this.”
Amanda smiled for the first time since Ronan had walked into the office suite. “Oh, this baby is definitely Simon’s, but after all the years of suffering he put me through, he deserves to twist in the wind on this one. Will you keep my secret for me?”
“What secret?” Ronan asked with a devious grin. “Ten, did you hear a secret?”
“Nope!” Ten agreed.
“Make your call, and then we’ll head to the station.” Ronan took a seat on the sofa while Amanda called her father.
Ten knew Amanda’s father wasn’t a wife-beater and had no idea the kind of abuse his daughter had suffered at Simon’s hands. Hopefully, she would let him in on all the secrets she’d been carrying.
His thoughts switching to Paul Stark, Ten said a silent prayer that the grieving father would survive the car wreck that nearlykilled him. It would be his pleasure to show Stark Simon Westlake’s mug shot when he woke up.
17
Ronan
After the craziness of the day, arresting the Westlakes, being there in person to watch Simon go through the booking process, and filling Cisco in on all the details, Ronan was looking forward to going home and calling out for pizza with Ten and the kids. A message from Carson stopped that plan in its tracks. It seemed the Craig brothers were ready to sit down and talk turkey with Corny and Destiny.
Ronan invited Jace, Fitz, and Aurora to join them for dinner. The kids could eat and watch movies in the living room while the adults talked, and hopefully didn’t shout, in the kitchen.
“Are you sure our house is the right place for this meeting?” Ten asked, sounding worried.
“Everything will be fine.” Ronan had no evidence this would be the case, but he knew the kind of men Carson and Cole were. If they were going to start a fight with their father and his new wife, they wouldn’t choose Ten and Ronan’s house as the setting. Besides, if Corny got out of line, he was certain he could take a sixty-year-old man with failing kidneys in a fight.
When the doorbell rang, Everly shouted she’d get it. Ronan headed into the living room in case it was Corny. It was Fitz’s family, along with Carson and Cole, both of whom looked like they’d had a sleepless night. Everly and Aurora squealed with excitement, deciding instantly that they’d watchMoanaand thenFrozen. Ronan made sure they were settled on the couch and got their food order: sausage pizza and mozzarella sticks.
“How are you guys doing?” Ronan asked Carson and Cole after he called in the food order.
The brothers eyed each other. “It’s been a rough couple of days,” Carson said. “Truman’s angry at me, and so are the velociraptors.”
Before Ronan had a chance to ask why, Cole chimed in, “Cassie is mad at me too. I didn’t tell the kids what’s going on, and I think that’s also part of what she’s upset about. She didn’t want to be here tonight.”
“Same for Truman,” Carson said on a sigh. “But Mom’s here. Don’t tell Corny.”
Ten nodded. “All the two of you can do is listen to what Corny and Destiny have to say and tell the truth about your feelings.Allof your feelings.” Ten looked like he had more to say on the matter when the doorbell rang again.
This time, Everly didn’t volunteer to get the door. When Ronan walked into the living room, his daughter wore an uncertain look on her face. “I’ll explain later.”
Everly nodded but looked as if she didn’t want Ronan to answer the door.
“Hey, guys,” Ronan greeted Corny and Destiny. “Come on in.”
“Who are these cuties?” Corny asked, waving to the girls. Neither waved back.
